Typographical composing machine



1932- L. 1.. KENNEDY 1,886,108

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOS ING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1'Nov. 1, 1932. 1.. 1.. KENNEDY TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 6, 1950 NTOR M ATTO NEKY Nov. 1, 1932. L, L.KENNEDY 1,336,103

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Nov. sflsso 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIHHHaz ""uuuuumh m ATTORNE u f mflzsyroR Q WQlllllllllmllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllfllll Nova 1, 1932. L. 1...KENNEDY 1,886,108

TYPOGRAFHIGAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Nov. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 OINVENTOR Patented Nov. 1, 1932 unites Parent oFFics LUTHER L. KENNEDY,OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, TO MERGEIFTHALER LZNOTYPE COMPANY, ACOR PORATION OF NEN YORK TYPOGlhiPI-IICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Applicationfiled November 6, 1330. Serial No. 483,787.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such aslinotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S.Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,582, wherein circulatingmatrices are released from a magazine by the manipulation of a keyboardand then composed in line, the composed line transferred to the face ofaslotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug orlinot-ype against the matrices which produce the type charactersthereon, and the matrices thereafter; elevated and returned throughdistributing mechanism to the magazine which they started. In thesemachines, the keyboard mechanism usually includes a single series ofvertical slides or so-called key bars connected to the rear ends of thefinger keys and adapted, as the keys are depressed, to trippoweroperated devices for the release of the individual matrices througha corresponding series of vertical escapement actuating'reeds. When themachines are not in use, it is customary to lock the finger keys toprevent their accidental actuation, and in the earlier commercialmachines the means employed for tlis purpose consisted merely of anadjustable rod arranged horizontally at the back of the keyboard inposition to be gaged or disengaged with and from series of key bars, asdesired.

However, in the later improved machines, changes made in the keyboardmechanism necessitated the provision of a different form of lockingmeans, and the device finally adopted and now in general use is in theform of a rectangular plate slidably mounted on the front plate of thekeyboard frame and having elongated slots through which the forward endsof the finger keys extend (see Kennedy Patent No. 1,397,971). Thislocking plate is effective in locking all the finger keys which controlthe release of the matrices, but it is inefiective as to the spacerreleasing keys, so that to overcome the diificulties arising from suchcondition, a sep arate device associated with said locking plate andcontrolled thereby has recently been proposed for locking and releasingthe spacer key (see the pending application of O. J. Straughan, SerialNo. 450,906). lVhile these later keyboard locking devices have beenfound to be thoroughly practical, they involve an excessive number ofparts, are expensive to manufacture and install, and

are otherwise objectionable.

The present invention is therefore directed to an improved keyboardlocking device which will possess allof the advantages of the laterdevices, but which will be free from the objections and disadvantagesattending the manufacture and use of said devices. In the preferredembodiment illustrated, the improved locking device comprises a sheetmetal plate mounted for vertical movement at the back of the keyboardand formed with transverse slots through which the rear ends. of all thefinger keys (the spacer releasing keys as well as the matrix releasingkeys) ex tend. Means operable at will from the front of the keybord arealso provided for adjust ing the plate into or out of locking engagesment with said finger keys.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown merely in preferredform and by way of example and as applied to the standard linotypekeyboard mechanism, but obviously many changes and variations may bemade therein and in its mode of application, which will still becomprised within its spirit. It should therefore be understood that theinvention isnot limited to any spe cific form or embodiment, except inso far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a linotype machine equippedwith the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the keyboardmechanism, having the improved locking device applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the keyboard, showing the locking plateraised to its inactive position; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the locking platelowered to its active or looking position.

' The matrices X and spacers Y (Fig. 1) are stored in their respectivemagazines X Y and are released therefrom for composition in line by themanipulation of the finger keys of the keyboard. The keyboard includes aseries of ninety finger keys A and one or more finger keys B, the formerbeing connected to the escapements (not shown) of the matrix magazine X,and the latter to the escapement actuating lever Y (Fig. 1) of thespacer e Y. The matrix releasing keys A are in the form of straightlevers mounted for vertical movement on fixed horizontal ivot rods Asecured to the side plates G, of the keyboard frame C, and which arearranged one above the other so as to sustain the keys in rows atdifferent levels. The spacer key B, on the other hand, is in the form ofa rocking lever, comprising the hori 'zoatal rod B journaled in thefixed side tes C, C, and provided with two arms and B, the arm 13extending forwardly from said rod along one side of the keyboard,

d the arm B extending rearwardly there- ;ihm at the other side of thekeyboard. Hie forward ends of the matrix releasing keys "A projectthrough elongated slots 0 formed in the inclined front plate C of thekeyhoardframe C, and the rear ends thereof, aswell as the rearwardlyextending arm B of the spacer releasingkey B, pro ect through similarslots 0 formed in the vertical back plate (1 of said frame. Normally,the rear ends offthe finger keys A and B are engaged with the lowerwalls of the slots 0 but move pt y in these slots when the forward eidspf the keys are depressed, the length of theflots in both the frontand back plates CQTC, being suflicient, of course, to permit thevertical movement required.

At their extreme rear ends, the finger keys A are formed with reducedportions 0 which e1 go in corresponding notches a formed in a series ofvertically movable weighted or slides A. When the finger ke s are l 'd,the slides A connected t ereto are raised, and when the fingerkeys arereleased the slides drop by gravity and return the keys to their normalposition. The spacer 1B is alsoconnected in similar fashion to oheof theslides A, but due to the overbalancin weight of the actuating arm B, itis furt er provided with a spring b to insure its return movement, saidspring (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) being connected to the rear arm B and anchoredto the side plate C of the ke board frame.

The slides A in rising, are adapted to set into motion the poweractuated devices which cause the release of the matrices and spacersfrom their respective magazines. These devices (see Fig. 2) are ofordinary construction and include the two series of trip dogs Aconnected to the upper ends of the slides A, the two series of pivotedyokes A supported by said do 5 and provided with the rotatable cams A, te constantly driven rubber-covered rolls A arranged below the cams, andthe single series of escapement actuating reeds A which are lifted bythe yokes under the influence of the cams A when the latter drop intoperipheral contact with the rolls A, all as is well understood in theart.

So far as described the parts, their construction, and mode of operationare or may be the same as those embodied in the commercial linotypemachines and in themselves constitute no part of the present invention,which, as before stated, is devoted to an improved locking deviceintended to prevent the actuation of 'all the finger keys when themachine is not in use.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the improved locking device is in theform of a rectangular plate D mounted for vertical movement by screw andslot connections (1 against the rear face of the fixed back plate C ofthe keyboard frame. The plate D (see Figs. 3 and 4) is formed with aseries of elongated slots al through which the rear ends of the matrixkeys A extend and also with a single slot or notch a! through which therear arm B of the spacer key B extends. When the plate D occupies itsraised or inactive position, the slots d, d are adapted to register withthe corresponding slots 0 in the fixed back plate C, so as to permitfree vertical movement of the finger keys A and B; whereas, when saidplate occupies its lower or active position, the upper walls of theslots d, d will be located out of registry with the slots 0 and broughtinto direct engagement with the rear ends of the finger keys A and B soas to prevent their vertical movement. It will be seen, therefore, thatby adjusting the plate D downwardly or upwardly, all of the matrixreleasing keys A as well as the spacer releasing key B may be lockedagainst actuation or unlocked, as desired. In addition to its lockingfunction, the plate D when adjusted to its active position serves also,in the event of binding or sticking of the finger keys or slides A topositively restore them to the positions they should normally occupy.

The means herein employed for adjusting the locking plate D and whichare also intended to hold the same in its inactive position comprise apair of toggle joints D, the upper members D thereof being pivotallyconnected to the plate near its opposite ends, and the lower members Dbeing similarly connected to the fixed keyboard frame C. The relation ofthe parts is such that, by collapsing the toggle joints, the lockingplate will be lowered so as to shift the upper walls of the slots (1, clinto engagement with the finger keys A and B, and, conversely, byextending the toggle joints, the locking plate will be raised so as toshift said walls out of engagement with the finger keys. In the presentinstance, the operation of the toggle joints D is effected manually bymeans of a pending cross ribs C of the keyboard rame C. At its rear end,the shaft D* is provided with a small crank disk D arranged immediatelybelow the locking plate D and formed with a fiat banking surface (Z Atits forward end, the rock shaft is provided with a knurled knob orhandle D whereby it may be turned in one direction or the other, asdesired. Between its ends, the rock shaft D* is also jrovided with acollar D which engages one of thecross ribs C and which in conjunctionwith the crank disk D is adapted to restrain the shaft against endwisedisplacement.

The links D are attached at their outer ends to the knuckles of thetoggles D and are pivoted at their inner ends eccentrically to the crankdisk D, such that by turning the rock shaft D in its bearings the linkswill be moved simultaneously by the crank disk in opposite directionsand thus extend or collapse the toggles according to the direction inwhich the shaft is turned.

To limit the rocking movements of the shaft D, a stop pin D mounted atthe back of the frame C adjacent the said shaft is provided and arrangedto engage the before mentioned banking surface (Z of the crank disk D.The stop pin D (as will be noted from Fig. 3) is positioned so that itwill not arrest the rotation of the shaft D when the latter is turned toextend the toggle joints D until the members D D of the respectivetoggle joints have been moved to a position past dead center. The plateD (which itself is sufficiently heavy to collapse the toggles againstthe resistance presented by the shaft D will therefore be sustained andlocked in its raised position without any other means of support.

As shown in Fig. l, the stop pin D through its engagement with thebanking surface 6Z3, also arrests the rotation of the shaft D when it isturned to colla se the toggles D and thus locates and sustains thelooking plate D in its lower position. This latter condition, however,is not essential to the proper operation of the device, since at suchtimes the upper walls of the slots (Z (Z engage the rear ends of thefinger keys, which are firmly supported and guided in the slots 0 of thefixed back plate C and hence are fully capable of supporting the plateD.

As a result of the foregoing arrangement,

a partial turn of the handle D in a clock- Wise direction (according toFig. 1) looks the finger keys A and B of the keyboard against actuation,and a similar turn thereof in the opposite direction releases said keys.By the first operation, the crank disk D,

through the links D collapses the toggles D and lowers the locking plateD to its active position, the upper walls of the slots (Z in said plate,as well as the upper wall of the notch (Z being carried into engagementwith the rear ends of the matrix releasing keys A and the rear arm B ofthe spacer releasing key B respectively (see Fig. l). All of the fingerkeys are thus locked against accidental depression and broughtpositively into their normal position. By the second operation, thecrank disk pushes the links D outwardly to extend the toggles D andraise the looking plate D to its inactive position, at which time theupper walls of the slots (Z (l are carried upwardly out of engagementwith the rear ends of the finger keys A and B, the crank disk D engagingthe stop pin D when the toggles have been completely extended and movedpast dead center to hold the looking plate in its raised or inactiveposition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A keyboard for typographical composing machines including, incombination, a supporting frame, a series of matrix releasing keys and aspacer releasing key movably mounted therein, and unitary locking meansadjustable to active and inactive position and arranged to engage all ofsaid finger keys directly so as to prevent or permit their actuationaccording to the adjusted position of said locking means.

' 2. A keyboard for typographical composing machines including, incombination, a supporting frame, a series of matrix releasing keys and aspacer releasing key movably mounted therein, and unitary locking meansadjustable to active and inactive position and arranged to engage therear ends of all of said finger keys directly'so as to prevent or permittheir actuation according to the adjusted position of said lockingmeans.

3. A keyboard for typographical composing machines including. incombination, a supporting frame, a series of matrix releasing keys and aspacer releasing key movably mounted therein, and a locking platemounted on the supporting frame and adjustable to active or inactiveposition as desired, the said plate being formed with portions adaptedto be engaged directly with and disengaged from all of the said fingerkeys as the plate is adjusted to its active and inactive positions,respectively.

4. A keyboard for typographical composing machines including, incombination, a supporting frame, a series of matrix releasing keys and aspacer releasing key movably mounted therein, and a locking platemounted at the back of the supporting frame and formed with elongatedslots through which the rear ends of all of the said finger keys eXtend,said locking plate being adjustable so as to shift the end walls of itsslots into or out of engagement with the finger keys," as desired.

5. A keyboard for typographical composing machines including, incombination, a supporting frame, a series of finger keys movably mountedtherein, a back plate fixed to the supporting frame and formed withelongated slots wherein the rear ends of the fi keys are movablyarranged, and a 100 'ng plate slidably mounted on the back plateandformed with corresponding elongated slots through which the finger keysextend, the said locking plate being adjustable to active or inactiveposition so as to shift its slots out of or into registry with those ofthe fixed back plate and thereby prevent or permit the actuation of thefinger keys according to the adjusted position of the locking plate.

6. A. keyboard for typographical composing machines including, incombination, a sup orting frame, a series of matrix releasing eye and aspacer releasing key movably mounted therein, a locking plate adjustablymounted at the back of said frame and formed with elongated slotsthrough which the rear ends of all said finger keys extend, and manuallyoperated means for adjusting the locking plate so as to shift its slotsinto or out of engagement with the finger keys, as desired.

7. A keyboard for typographical composing machines including, incombinaton, a'

supportng frame, a series of finger keys movably mounted therein anddisposed at different levels, a vertically adjustable locking platemounted at the back of the supporting frame, a pair of toggle joints foradjusting said plate, and manually operated means for extending andcollapsing the toggle joints.

8. A keyboard for typographical composing machlnes including, incombination, a supporting frame, a series of finger keys movablymountedtherein and disposed at different levels, a vertically adjustablelocking plate mounted at the back of the supporting frame, a pair oftoggle joints for adjusting said plate, and manually operated means forextending and collapsing the toggle joints, said locking plate beingformed with portions adapted as the toggle joints are collapsed toengage the rear ends of the finger keys directly and as the joints areextended to be disengaged from said keys, for the purpose described.

9. A ke board as specified in claim 7, characterized by the fact thatthe manually operated means therein referred to consist of fore-and-aftrock shaft journaled in the supporting frame and connected at its rearend by apair of links to the said toggle joints.

10. A keyboard as specified in claim 7, in-

cluding a stop for arresting the toggle joints when extended past deadcenter, for the purpose described.

Le t r. i

11. Akeybo'ard for typographical composing machines including, incombination, a supporting frame, a series of finger keys movably mountedtherein and disposed at different levels, an adjustable locking platemounted at the back of the supporting frame and formed with portionsarranged to engage the rear ends of all of said finger keys, andmanually operated means for adjusting the look ing plate to its activeand inactive positions, said means comprising a pair of toggle jointslocated at the opposite ends of the locking plate, a fore-and-aft rockshaft journaled in the supporting frame, and a pair of intermediatelinks attached eccentrically to the rear end of said shaft and connectedrespectively to the knuckles of said toggle joints.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

LUTHER L. KENNEDY.

